Decide on a menu.  If you are looking at a summer barbeque, focus on items that can be prepared ahead, or with little or no fuss.  Your focus should be on joining in the fun!  Things like cool summer salads are great make-ahead items.  If you plan to grill, prepare your meat or main dishes ahead, and place them in plastic storage wear the night before.  Allowing them time to marinade will not only insure their tenderness, but it will keep you from being hurried once your guests arrive!  For dessert, never underestimate ice cream!  Below I will provide you a simple, crowd pleasing ice cream bomb recipe that will be sure to be the talk of the party – by young and old alike!

Now that you have a menu in place – you will want to think about simple, attractive decorations and accessories.  Building on our outdoor theme – lets start with your table.  Often you can find remnant sailcloth fabric on sale at your local fabric store.  This is the perfect canvas to allow your little Picassos to create a festive masterpiece.  With its heavy weight, it can withstand a whole summer’s worth of festivities, and allows everyone to be part of the fun.  Be sure to look for fabric paints that will hold up to washing!  You could also use a cotton quilt as a makeshift tablecloth.  Just make sure it isn’t a cherished quilt from Aunt Betty beforehand! 

Now, what about to serve?  All of the discount stores are carrying those adorable galvanized pails.  You can get them in colors or in the plain metal finish – but they make a great caddy to corral silverware, napkins, or if they are sealed and watertight – why not make an attractive centerpiece with flowers from your yard?  And don’t worry if you don’t have matching fabric napkins – mix and match coordinating prints.  Or, why not pick up some inexpensive colorful bandannas as impromptu napkins?

Your old red Radio Flyer wagon doubles as a beverage station – holding ice and canned sodas.  If you don’t have a wagon handy, why not use a large plastic flower pot?  Speaking of flower pots – the inexpensive terra cotta variety make great containers for votive candles (think ahead & get citronella!), or to bake cupcakes in for the kids.  You could also use them as place cards, with a seed packet in each one.  This is a neat gift that each of your guests can take home with them.  The large plastic flower pots can also be filled with water, to allow the kids to bob for apples while dinner is being grilled. 

Now dinner has been served, and your party is a hit.  I promised you a dessert recipe, didn’t I? 

Double Chocolate Dream Ice Cream Bomb

* It is important that you freeze each layer solid before continuing to the next layer!  If you rush this process, all of the layers will run together. *

Ingredients:

2 pints of chocolate ice cream

2-1/2 cups of hot fudge sauce at room temperature

2 pints of vanilla ice cream

1 cup of walnuts, chopped coarse

2-3 cups of your favorite chocolate cookie or candy bar, chopped

Cooking spray

Place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of 8” x 13” springform pan.  You may wish to lightly coat the paper with cooking spray to make it adhere to the pan.  Chill the pan for about 30 minutes in the freezer.  Next you will want to beat 1-1/2 pints of the chocolate ice cream in an electric mixer.  You want the ice cream to be soft, but still holding its shape.  This will take about 2 minutes.  Once that is complete, you will smooth this mixture evenly on the bottom, and up the sides of the chilled springform pan – but do this quickly!  The ice cream won’t cooperate with you for long.  Once this is complete, you will return the pan to the freezer for about 45 minutes. 

Your next layer is your cookies or candy bar layer.  We like to use either Oreo® cookies or Heath® bars.  You may want to experiment with a few to see what you like best!  Spread your cookie/candy layer evenly over the frozen ice cream, paying special attention to making sure you go up the sides of the pan.  Return the pan to the freezer for approximately 1 hour.  Once hardened, ladle 1 cup of the hot fudge mixture over the ice cream.  Return to the freezer for 15 minutes.  Soften half of your vanilla ice cream just as you did the chocolate.  Spread it over the other layers, then return to freezer again to harden for 1 hour.  Remove from the freezer – gently spread an even layer of the chopped walnuts on top of your bomb.  Refreeze the pan for another 45 minutes.  Remove from freezer, and proceed with the remaining chocolate ice cream, followed by the remaining vanilla – in the same manner as you have done the other layers, chilling in between for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  If the mixture extends beyond the rim of the pan, you can smooth it over and remove any excess.  Once all of the layers are complete, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for about 4 hours, or overnight.  When ready to serve – you will need to dip the pan into very hot water for a few seconds, to loosen the bomb from the pan.  Release the ring, and the bomb will slide off of the pan base easily.  You can then transfer it to a cutting board or large serving dish, and slice it into wedges.  You can use the remaining hot fudge sauce (heated) to garnish the slices.

I hope that these suggestions will spark your own creativity.  Remember that you can make any event extraordinary – just use your imagination!

© 2004 Traci Hayner Vanover